CIA Now Backs Lab Leak Theory for COVID-19, But Confidence Remains Low

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- After years of speculation, the CIA has weighed in yet again: A lab leak is now considered the likely origin of the COVID pandemic. 

However, the agency admits it has "low confidence" in its conclusion and says both a natural origin and a research-related incident are still possible.

“CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting,” a CIA spokesperson said in a statement on Jan. 25. “CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible.”